Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Cheilininae
Eponymy: Frank ‘Alexander’ Wetmore (1886–1978) was an American ornithologist and avian palaeontologist who conducted extensive fieldwork in Latin America. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Schultz & Marshall.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 42 m (Ref. 1602), usually 30 - ? m. Tropical; 28°N - 24°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef; Pohnpei and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 23. Closely resembles juveniles of Cheilinus fasciatus and Epibulus insidiator. Since they have broadly overlapping meristics, color pattern is the only reliable distinguishing character (Ref. 1602). Body of adults when fresh grayish brown, becoming reddish brown on mid side and ventrally on some specimens. Head with narrow, diagonal pale bands radiating from the orbit; iris bluish with reddish inner rim and an upper and lower streak of pale yellow. A large black spot covering more than half of pelvic fin. One predorsal bone. Premaxilla protractile. Spinous portions of dorsal and anal fins deeply incised.
Inhabit caves or crevices of lagoon and seaward reefs and drop-offs (Ref. 37816). Benthic and benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Specimens usually taken at depths of at least 30 m. Secretive (Ref. 37816).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Randall, J.E., 1983. Revision of the Indo-Pacific labrid fish genus Wetmorella. Copeia 1983(4):875-883. (Ref. 2138)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.2 - 28.2, mean 27 °C (based on 73 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02138 (0.00871 - 0.05249), b=2.97 (2.76 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
